In a ceremony last Sunday, the North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue (NHRFR) department, which serves the communities of Weehawken, North Bergen, Union City, West New York and Guttenberg, promoted five of their bravest to new positions. Longtime captain Richard Hess was promoted to battalion chief, while John Dorman, Joseph Arena, Joseph Rovito and Kevin Jackson were all made captains. Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner, who also serves as NHRFR’s chairman, praised all five men’s leadership abilities, bravery and dedication.

South Marginal St. reopens both lanes, should ease Lincoln Tunnel congestion

South Marginal Street, which runs parallel to the section of Route 495 that leads into the Lincoln Tunnel, was restored to a two-way street earlier this week, said a press release from the state Department of Transportation. As it was, traffic had only been able to move westward, away from the tunnel, thus closing a crucial thru-street for motorists looking to avoid Lincoln Tunnel traffic by driving under the helix, rather than on it. The reasons for the closure, however, were not due directly to deficiencies with the street itself, but rather to the bridge which runs above it. The bridge deck replacement was accomplished in stages, which required the reduction of one travel lane throughout construction.

New Jersey Blood Services to expand drives in Hudson County

New Jersey Blood Services, a division of New York Blood Center which supplies blood products and services to 60 hospitals throughout the state, is in need of volunteers at blood drives. The blood service volunteer is an integral member of the collection team whose task it is to assist donors with registration, escorting, and canteen duties, and to watch for post-donation reactions. Volunteers should have the ability to relate to the public, be able to perform different jobs as needed and have the willingness to follow the rules. For additional information contact Manager of Community Relations, R. Jan Zepka at (732) 616-8741 or rzepka@nybloodcenter.org.

Palisades Medical Center to host family health fair in Union City

A Family Health Fair will be held on Saturday, Dec. 1, at 11 a.m., at Eugenio Maria de Hostos Early Childhood Education Center in Union City. Palisades Medical Center and the North Hudson Rotary Club are co-sponsoring the fair, which will feature free health screenings and information, as well as free giveaways for children, including books, coloring books and crayons.

All health screenings and evaluations are open to the public and will be provided free of charge. Health information will be provided in English and Spanish and bi-lingual medical professionals will be on hand to answer questions. Health test and screenings will include rapid HIV testing, sugar and cholesterol, blood pressure, heart rate and pulse oximetery. There will also be a public display of the nationally-recognized AIDS Quilt.

Eugenio Maria de Hostos Early Childhood Education Center is located at 2200 Kennedy Blvd. in Union City, NJ. For more information about the Family Health Fair, call Joanne Riggs at (201) 854-5793.